Charred trees and homes are left along Interstate 77 Wednesday Dec. 12, 2012, where a gas line ruptured and exploded in Sissonville, W.Va. Tuesday. The interstate pavement melted from the heat of the explosion, shutting down Interstate 77 overnight. But the northbound lanes of the interstate reopened at 8am Wednesday, and the southbound lanes a few hours later. Investigations into what caused the massive blast in a 20-inch Columbia Gas Transmission line are under way. (AP Photo/Charleston Daily Mail,Tom Hindman)

Gallery: Gas line explosion in Sissonville, W.Va.

Dec. 13, 2012 @ 11:24 AM

The Associated Press

At least five homes went up in flames Tuesday afternoon and a badly burned section of Interstate 77 in West Virginia was closed after a natural gas line exploded in an hour-long inferno.